After a time-shift, mixed signals from the circadian clock
...takes several days, though the details of how this adaptation takes place are not well understood. Researchers now report findings that suggest this adaptation process does not necessarily involve a gradual and synchronous adaptation by the neurons that compri...Secret of smallpox's success may lead to bioterror cure
...lated and eliminated from the mutants is a special adaptation of pox viruses that appears to help the viruses hide double-stranded RNA, a form of RNA that only viruses produce and that animal immune systems have learned to recognize. "It's what we call a 'pathogen associated molecular pattern' a biomarker that...Photos reveal new primate species
... drop below freezing; its long coat is probably an adaptation to the cold. The taxonomic name of the species, Lophocebus kipunji, recognizes the monkey's local Kinyakyusa name (pronounced kip-oon-jee) used by a few hunters around Mt. Rungwe. The highland mangabey is extremely rare and critically endangered, wit...PNAS highlights for the week of May 16 - 20
...dge. Key events in this history include an initial adaptation to forest ground litter and soil coincident with a surge in flowering plants, then an advance to ecological dominance in tropical forests, and finally a broad expansion up into trees and outward into drier environments. Fish Genitalia May Balance At...DOE JGI announces 2006 Community Sequencing Program portfolio
...basis of the monkey flower's path of evolution and adaptation could be readily transferable to crop plants. "By sequencing the monkey flower, DOE JGI will be enabling genomicists to pioneer new territory, taking on one of the most difficult and fundamental questions in evolutionary biology--how new species evol...Monkeys adapt robot arm as their own
...tic arm," he said. "So, our hypothesis is that the adaptation of brain structures allows the expansion of capability to use an artificial appendage with no loss of function, because the animal can flip back and forth between using the two. Depending on the goal, the animal could use its own arm or the robotic a...Brain chemical serotonin involved in early embryo patterning, Forsyth scientists find
... as a neurotransmitter may have arisen through the adaptation of ancient, fundamental cell-cell signals to a new purpose as nervous systems evolved. The team was led by principal investigator Michael Levin, PhD, Associate Member of the Staff, whose laboratory focuses on understanding the role played by flows ...Neandertal femur suggests competition with hyenas and a shift in landscape use
...major behavioral changes and major improvements in adaptation began to take shape with modern humans," said Erik Trinkaus, Ph.D., Mary Tileston Hemenway Professor of Anthropology at Washington University and co-author of the paper. "One of the changes that has been documented with the transition from Neandertal...Viagra shows selective effects in hypertensive pregnancy on mother, fetus
...d beneficial effects on pregnancy-induced vascular adaptation and fetal outcome," according to senior author/lab... how and why Viagra aids maternal uterine vascular adaptation and fetal health; whether similar benefits will occur in humans and whether there might be any harmf...How important is sexual conflict?
...ially setting off an endless evolutionary cycle of adaptation and counter adaptation. As with many exciting areas of biology, however, controversy exists over the details and generality of the scenario outlined. Sexual conflict is not in debate; what is being debated is whether this generates escalating arms ra...Same mutation aided evolution in many fish species, Stanford study finds
... genetic change is responsible for an evolutionary adaptation in disparate populations. "Almost every time the stickleback evolves in fresh water it loses the armor," said David Kingsley, PhD, professor of developmental biology and lead author of the study. "Although the trait evolved many times all over the wo...APS announces 2005 Young Investigators Awards
...focuses on the molecular biology underlying muscle adaptation to exercise. In particular, he is studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms that repair muscle following strenuous exercise. He is specifically interested in the role of connective-tissue degrading enzymes known as matrix metalloproteinases or...New slant on vision research: Neurons sensitive to viewing angle
...he face were simply erased--as adapting images, no adaptation effect occurred. "This shows that fragmented local features are not sufficient to get the adaptation effect," He said. "You must have a global representation of the face. But local features may be impo...NHGRI targets 12 more organisms for genome sequencing
... year. The pea aphid is a model for studying rapid adaptation because this species is exceptionally able at adapting to and resisting many pesticides. Understanding this resistance at a molecular level can lead to safer and more effective pesticides and improve human nutrition. The genome of the pea aphid, used...Antibody that neutralizes most HIV strains described by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute
... membrane surface, and the antibody has an unusual adaptation that might help it stick to the virus close to the membranea "finger" of amino acids with a propensity to dip down into the membrane and bring the antibody in contact with the target area. Moreover, since the structure shows what the "epitope"...Novel sulfide-binding mechanism found in deep-sea tubeworms
...e is a very stable shape, which may be part of the adaptation for the extreme conditions in which these worms thrive." Because zinc is the second most utilized transition metal (after iron) in biological systems, the characterization of this hemoglobin's structure, assembly, and function could provide a starti...Ingestion of afterbirth appears to promote maternal behavior in mammals
... course," says Kristal. "In fact, there may be an adaptation in humans that mitigates against ingestion. We don't know. The introduction of POEF to human mothers after delivery to influence maternal behavior cannot be addressed at this point. "Parturition in mammals occurs in the context of sensory, neu...Prehistoric jawbone reveals evolution repeating itself
...logists have doubted that such a seemingly complex adaptation could have originated more than once in mammals, but according to the authors of the paper, the evidence of T. trusleri indicates that it did. "Nothing like that has ever been found before," said Tom Rich, Ph.D., lead author of the paper and curato...Field-cricket study shows that when it comes to competition, sperm quality matters
...y aspects of sexual reproduction. The most obvious adaptation to sperm competition is the selection in males for increased sperm number; producing more sperm is adaptive when sperm competition is based on sheer numbers of gametes. It is also known that in vertebrates sperm quality plays an important role in pre...Researchers at UT Southwestern discover new function for old enzyme
...ng the mitochondrial genome may be an evolutionary adaptation where the mitochondria co-opts a nuclearly encoded protein to ensure survival of its genome, said Dr. Butow. "The cell takes care of the nucleus, because that is where its genome is," he said, "but the mitochondrial genome is not looked after. It has...